From its earliest settlements New England has struggled with issues surrounding the treatment of its poor. The early Northeastern colonies followed the lead of England's 1601 Poor Law, which imposed compulsory taxes for maintenance of the poor but made no distinction between the "vagrant, vicious poor" and the helpless, honest poor. This confusion persisted for generations and led directly to establishment in most of the state's towns of alms houses and poor farms and, later, county institutions which would collectively come to form a dark chapter in New England history. Steve Taylor will examine how paupers were treated in these facilities and how reformers eventually succeeded in closing them down.

Steve Taylor is an independent scholar, farmer, journalist and longtime public official. With his sons, Taylor operates a dairy, maple syrup and cheese making enterprise in Meriden Village. He has been a newspaper reporter and editor, and served for 25 years as NH's commissioner of agriculture. Taylor was the founding executive director of the NH Humanities Council and is a lifelong student of the state's rural culture. He has lectured at libraries throughout the Northeast.

This program will be held on Zoom. Register by clicking HERE.